"With less than a week until sequestration is set to take effect, we are calling on the House to take immediate action to prevent the irrational spending cuts it will impose, which could severely damage our economy and national security. The sequester was deemed by both parties as too severe to be allowed to take effect and was meant to compel Congress to agree on a balanced solution to our deficits.

"Unless Congress acts, sequestration would have a serious and disproportionate impact on job creation and economic growth in Maryland. The 60 non-military federal facilities and 17 military facilities in Maryland would see their ability to conduct operations significantly erode; nearly 140,000 federal civilian employees who work in Maryland would face furloughs and potential pay cuts; and thousands of jobs in Maryland would be put at risk. Our students, small businesses, families, and first-responders would also be affected by devastating cuts to investments in education, law enforcement, infrastructure, innovation, research, and other areas that are critical to building a strong middle class.

"Maryland -- and every state across the country -- cannot afford this irrational, meat-ax approach to deficit reduction. House and Senate Democrats, as well as President Obama, have put forward serious alternatives that are balanced and avert sequestration. We urge House Republicans, who control the agenda, to bring a bill to the Floor this week to replace the sequester or delay its implementation as negotiations for a balanced agreement continue. We must all work together to avert this crisis, and we stand united in an effort to meet that challenge."